Garagecrab Prototype

By lazd on Apr 03, 2017

14  810  6

Garagecrab is available at FPV HQ, PitchRollYaw, and FPV Aces and is shipping now!

We've always been big on 3" racers, but with new motors in the same weight class capable of spinning 4" props, we decided it was time to give it a try. Long story short, we fell in love with 1407 motors on 4" props: it's as nimble as a 3" but as fast as a 5", and it flies beautifully both with a GoPro and without.

Garagecrab is our entry into the category of 4" frames for 12mm pattern motors (1306, 1407, 1707, 1608, etc). Coming in at just over 50g with a 4mm bottom plate and 3mm top plate, Garagecrab is designed to be durable, yet light. With a host of TPU accessories such as booties, battery protectors, top plate bumpers, and GoPro mounts, Garagecrab is thrives in unforgiving indoor race courses such as parking garages and warehouses. The stretch-x geometry gives you that stable feel and anti-propwash benefits, and the host of build options give you flexibility in choosing how you want your quad to fly, whether it's top mount battery for a more true center of gravity, or bottom mount with a GoPro Session on top, Garagecrab is can be built either way with the included hardware.

And yes, she gets it with a GoPro:

Flite Fest West 2017 with the Garagecrab

And if anyone said a 1407 on 4" can't carry a GoPro and still fly smooth freestyle, here's proof to the contrary:

Chasing the wild // Garagecrab

Topmount prototype at an indoor race:

duke of the palace

Photos

Part List

Frame

Garagecrab (14 builds)
Falconmultirotors.com
$50.00

Flight Controller

FLIP 32 - F3 - OMNIBUS NANO v3 (24 builds)
Readytoflyquads.com
$25.99

ESCs

4 x EMAX D-SHOT Bullet Series 20A ESC(BLHELI_S) (19 builds)
Getfpv.com
$47.96

Motors

4 x BrotherHobby T1 1407 3600kv Brushless Motor (193 builds)
Fpvheadquarters.com
$63.96

Propellers

RaceKraft 3 Inch Quad-Blade Propeller - Transparent 3030 (3x3x4) (4 builds)
Getpropsman.com
$1.99

FPV Camera

Foxeer HS1177 IR Block FPV Camera (58 builds)
Fpvheadquarters.com
$39.99

FPV Transmitter

Eachine VTX03 Super Mini 5.8G 72CH 0/25mW/50mw/200mW Switchable FPV Transmitter (417 builds)
Banggood.com
$12.22

Antenna

FuriousFPV 48mm Micro U.FL Antenna - Ultra Small - Ultra Clear (3 builds)
Pitchrollyaw.net
$12.99

Receiver

FrSky XM+ SBUS Mini Receiver (1149 builds)
Getfpv.com
See Site

Batteries

Bonka Power 850mAh 45C 4s XT-60 (2 builds)
Bonkausa.com
$17.99

Radio

FrSky Taranis QX7S 2.4GHz RC Transmitter - Carbon or Blue (50 builds)
Racedayquads.com
$184.99

Goggles

Fat Shark Dominator HD3 Core FPV Goggles (87 builds)
Getfpv.com
$399.99

HD Camera

GoPro HERO6 Black (9 builds)
Getfpv.com
$399.99

HD Camera

GoPro HERO5 Session (302 builds)
Getfpv.com
$199.99

Misc Parts

RTF 1v-17v Adjustable Voltage Regulator (4 builds)
Readytoflyquads.com
$0.99

Video Receiver

ImmersionRC rapidFIRE w/ Analog PLUS Goggle Receiver Module (179 builds)
Getfpv.com
$159.99

Battery Charger

ISDT SC-608 150W 8A MINI Smart LCD Battery Balance Charger AU Warehouse (14 builds)
Banggood.com
$54.27

Soldering Iron

Weller WESD51 Digital Soldering Station
Amazon.com
See Site
Show stores (10)

Discussion

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CesiumSalami   Apr 10, 2017  

Did you remove the BEC from the board for this? Airbot and RTFQuads states that the BEC has to be removed for 4s operation. If so, could you share the BEC setup and wiring a bit?

lazd   Apr 11, 2017 

At the time of my purchase, it was assumed that the BEC supported 4S, and I was actually the one who reported that it does not work with 4S. It powered fine from 13.5V, but when I gave it 16.8V, the BEC blew up. I was able to wire in a 1-17V Adjustable voltage regulator from RTFQuads with input voltage coming from the ESC pads and output voltage going to the 5V through-hold pads where you would normally hook up your RX. This worked just fine. However, I tried t his on a second flight controller, and the BEC blew up in such a way that there was a short across VIN, and I was unable to use the board. RTFQuads sent me another board and removed the BEC for me, and this board works perfectly with the same BEC setup I described above. Hope that helps!

CesiumSalami   Apr 11, 2017 

That does! It's VERY helpful! Little miffed - I've reached out to RTF quads a few times as the listing changed (i guess in response to your feedback) after it was delivered. Airbot responded within a few hours though with a graphic showing what to remove. No response from RTF though. May need to find a hot air station and cross my fingers.

lazd   Apr 11, 2017 

Yes definitely use a hot air station to remove, and it'll work great once the BEC is gone!

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